Two militants involved in various sectarian violence cases have escaped from a high-security prison, police told Daily Times on Friday. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rehmatullah Niazi said the police came to know about their escape on Friday morning when prisoners were being counted. The two, Usman Saifullah and Shafiqur Rehman, escaped from a prison in the cantonment area. The police have formed various teams to arrest them besides arresting 13 people - nine jail staff and three anti-terrorism force personnel - in connection with the escape. The escapees were involved in 26 cases some of them of sectarian nature. They had been under trial for the past 18 months after being accused of killing 11 policemen when they attacked a police convoy in the Sarib area in 2003. They were also accused of masterminding an attack on a Muharram procession in Quetta in which 52 people were killed in 2003. They also allegedly killed around 50 Shias in 2005. The escape of the two late on Thursday came as security forces were on high alert in the run-up to the climax of a traditional Shia mourning period this weekend which is often marred by militant attacks.
Separately, some unidentified people killed the Khuzdar Central Jail deputy superintendent. Sources said Sher Zaman was returning home along with his driver after Friday prayers at around 3pm when the assailants ambushed his vehicle in Latifabad.